Testimonials

What Church and mission leaders are saying about When Charity Destroys Dignity:

An important message about a crucial issue in missions: how to help churches be self-reliant. A study book for missionaries, mission leaders, and every short-term mission group. 

— Dan Fountain

Open it to any page and you will be drawn into gripping, real-life anecdotes and situations. No one serious about the most pervasive unsolved problems in missions today can possibly do without it. It is very urgent!

— Ralph D. Winter

Glenn’s comprehensive analysis of the dependency syndrome is supported extensively by illustrations drawn from his experience in Africa and elsewhere. A “must read” for all church mission leaders, at home and abroad. 

— Arthur F. Glasser

Amazon Reviews on "When Charity Destroys Dignity"

A MUST read for anyone managing foreign non profits, even non-religious aid work, especially in the African context, but it is still broadly valid for work in many areas.

— Luke Townsley

This book deals with one of the most foundational issues in missions today - unhealthy dependency in church and mission. Glenn Schwartz digs deeply into scriptural, anthropological, and sociological principles for helping churches break out of dependency on resources from elsewhere in order to promote healthy self-reliance. Abundant illustrations from churches in the majority world prove that dependency can be conquered and churches can become healthy and missional. 

— David M. Howard

I am a missionary serving in an emerging world country in a very remote location. Glenn Schwartz does a great job presenting authoritative and experiential material regarding the “Western” approach to missions. I can vouch for what he says and our own mission has adopted Glenn’s principles with success. Of special interest to me was the chapter on “Short Term Missions.” I do everything I can to share that chapter and its principles with short term groups heading to visit us in Papua New Guinea.

— John A.

A compilation of some of Schwartz’s legacy of work in eliminating dependency caused by the Western church in mission contexts, this work will provide some challenging insights to those who work in church missions and Christian relief agencies. This work doesn’t provide pat answers but gives concepts that should inform our work with the poor around the world. Mostly coming from African contexts, he gives lots of solid illustrations, many from personal experience. What is most appreciated is the spiritual nature in which the discussion is handled. I bought a copy for every person on my missions committee and will be working through the implications of this book with them for quite some time.

— W. Gunn

This book is a must read for NGOs and their supporters to get us to look beyond our initial good intentions to the broad impact that our actions have on the other.